Switching device for firing automatic firearms



June 1, 1965 A. scHONHERR 3,187,231

SWITCHING DEVICE FOR FIRING AUTOMATIC FIREARMS Filed March 1, 1962 fig.pm in Opevaiins [Emu-ii fielem 'ola Control. [Lvcuji SwH-ch flcirgfior1L 6, Sun ch\ 1 l la 2 l "I J Eurveni Sour I Luvmnt Source, 0 A L g ""02em uxl lar PReIG 9 9/ Pelag I i I Mayne Firing Linkage Eofltrol. Circuii2 fjflgg Opavafing Circuit Current 5 ouvca E I Maqn F'irin LinkageHttomas United States Patent 3,187,231 SWITCHING DEVICE FOR FIRINGAUTOMATIC FIREARMS Armin Schiinherr, Hamburg-Niendorf, Germany, assignorto Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-G.m.b.H., Frankfurt am Main, GermanyFiled Mar. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 176,693 6 Claims. (Cl. 317-139) The presentinvention relates to a fire circuit arrangement for use in electricallyactuated firearms.

For the firing of automatic firearms, which are normally set forsustained fire, it is necessary to provide a magnetic drive whichrenders it possible to fire single rounds with this equipment. By meansof this magnet, for instance a firing linkage may be actuated which isrestored to the initial position by a spring after the magnet has beenswitched 01f.

A known switching device working in this manner is illustrateddiagrammatically in FIGURE 1 of the drawmg.

In this switching device, a is an actuating switch, d is a selectorswitch for switching on continuous fire or individual roundsselectively, and g is the magnet. Reference character e is an auxiliaryswitch coupled to the magnet, c is an operating relay with its switch 0and b is an auxiliary relay with the normally closed main switch 1);,and the self-holding switch 12 The letters k, l, m designateinterference suppression members.

The selector switch d provides continuous fire in its open position. Ifthe actuating switch a is operated, the relay c closes its switch C inthe operating circuit. The magnet g remains energized until the switch ais opened again. The switches of the relay b remain in the normalposition because no voltage is applied to the relay coil.

For single rounds, the selector switch d is closed. As a result ofoperation of the actuating switch a, the coil of the relay 0 isconnected across the voltage source and the switch 0 closes theoperating circuit so that the magnet g is energized and thus operatesthe fixing linkage. As a result, the auxiliary switch e coupled to themagnet is closed so that the coil of the relay 17 also is connectedacross the voltage source. The operation of this relay causes aninterruption of the operating circuit through the switch [2 and henceimmediate release of the magnet. Since the relay b is self-holding viathe switch b this interruption in the operating circuit through theswitch b lasts until the control voltage is switched ofi through theopening of the actuation switch a, and the switch b in the operatingcircuit is closed by the release of the relay [2. On the opening of theactuating switch a, the relay 0 is also de-energized, and this in turnmaintains the interruption of the operating circuit as a result of theopening of the switch 0 Thus, a further individual round is only firedas a result of a fresh instruction through the switch a i.e., eachactuation of switch a produces but one short actuation of the operatingrelay, and consequently of the magnet.

This switching device has the disadvantage that the switch of two relaysb and c lie in the operating circuit and that these switches b and chave to be designed for the operating power of the magnet, and anadditional switch 11 for lower operating power is needed for the relayb. In addition, each switch in the operating circuit requires anadditional interference elimination which is designated by k and l inFIGURE 1.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a firecircuit arangement which overcomes the above drawbacks, and, with thisobject in view, the present invention resides in a firing circuitarangement whose operating circuit includes but a single control switch.

3,187,231 Patented June 1, 1965 ice Additional objects and advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent upon consideration of thefollowing description when taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is, as described above, a circuit diagram representative of theprior art.

FIGURE 2 is a circuit diagram of a fire circuit arrangement according tothe present invention.

The switching device according to the invention, which is shown inFIGURE 2, avoids the relatively high expenditure of switches andinterference suppression members in the operating circuit withoutsignificantly increasing the expenditure required for the controlcircuit. Reference character a is the actuator switch, r the selectorswitch for selectively switching on continuous fire or single rounds,and g is the magnet connectedto the firing linkage, shown schematically.The auxiliary switch coupled to the magnet is designated by p. Theoperating relay is designated by the letter 2 and its switch f is thesingle control switch of the operating circuit. The unenergizedauxiliary relay s has the normally closed main switch s and the normallyopened holding switch s The reference characters 0 and m represent thesuppression members.

The mode of operation is as follows: During continous fire, the selectorswitch r is closed. It then the switch a is actuated, the relay t isconnected across the voltage of the current source means via switch rand thus becomes energized. As a result, the control switch t in theoperating circuit is closed and the magnet is energized. At the sametime, the auxiliary switch p, which includes the three terminals 1, 2,3, and, through its mechanical coupling with the magnet of the operatingcircuit, establishes an electrical connection between terminals 1 and 3when the magnet is not energized and between terminals 2 and 3 when themagnet is energized, is moved to its last-named position so that therelay s has a voltage applied to it and remains self-holding via switchs so long as the actuator switch remains closed. As a result of openinga, the relays t and s are de-energized so that the magnet releases andthe continuous fire is terminated.

For single rounds, the selector switch r is opened. As a result ofactuating the switch a, the operating relay 1 has voltage applied acrossit via the auxiliary switch p coupled to the magnet and via switch s sothat the magnet is energized and at the same time brings the auxiliaryswitch p coupled thereto into the position where it establishes theelectrical connection between terminals 2 and 3. As a result of thischangeover, the coil of the relay t is de-energized and at the same timethe auxiliary relay s now has the voltage applied to it and becomesself-holding by the means of its holding switch s Since the relay t hasbecome deenergized, the operating circuit is interrupted again as aresult of the opening of I and the magnet is restored to its normalposition. Since the auxiliary relay s is still energized, the switch sis open and the operating relay 1. cannot operate again, even when theswitch p has returned to the position 1, 3, until the auxiliary relay sbecomes de-energized as a result of opening of the switch a and thecontact s closes again. Only then can another single round be fired.

The circuit according to the invention has, in particular, the advantagethat only a single relay is required to control the operating circuit.This is useful because relay switches in the operating circuit have tobe designed for the operating power of the magnet. To this must be addedthe fact that, as a result of the reduction in the number of switches,the susceptibility to faults and necessary maintenance of theinstallation are less. Moreover, as a result of the absence of furtherswitches in the operating circuit, the cost of suppression members isreduced. This is particularly important when the installation has to beshielded for radio interference. The auxiliary relay s can bedimensioned for comparatively small power because its switches s and sare used for low control currents only.

What is claimed is: 1. A fire circuit arrangement comprising, incombination:

(1) an operating circuit incorporating (a) an operating magnet, and (b)a single control switch electrically connected to said magnet forenergizing the same; and (2) a control circuit incorporating (a) anoperating relay mechanically connected to said control switch,

(b) an actuator switch, and

(c) switch means interconnecting said operating relay and said actuatorswitch for switching said control circuit between a first position inwhich said operating relay, and consequently said magnet, remaincontinuously actuated so long as said actuator switch is actuated, and asecond position in which each actuation of said actuator switch producesbut one short actuation of said operating relay, and consequently ofsaid magnet.

2. A fire circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1 wherein said switchmeans comprise a selector switch and an auxiliary switch mechanicallyconnected to said magnet to be opened thereby when said magnet isde-energized, said auxiliary switch being connected in seriescircuitwith said operating relay in consequence of which said auxiliary switch,when said switch means is switched into its second position by saidselector switch, interrupts said series-circuit.

3. A fire circuit arrangement comprising, in combination:

(1) an operating circuit incorporating (a) an operating circuit currentsource means,

(b) an operating magnet, and

(c) a single control switch electrically connected to said magnet andsaid operating circuit current source means for energizing the formerwhen said control switch is closed; and

(2) a control circuit incorporating (a) a control circuit current sourcemeans;

(b) an operating relay mechanically connected to said control switchsuch that the latter is closed when said operating relay is energized,

(c) an auxiliary relay having, and being mechanically connected to, mainand holding switches, said main switch being open and said holdingswitch being closed when said auxiliary relay is energized,

(d) an auxiliary switch mechanically connected to said magnet and havingfirst, second and third terminals, said auxiliary switch establishing anelectrical connection between said first and third terminals when saidmagnet is not energized and between said second and third terminals whensaid magnet is energized.

(e) a selector switch, and

(f) an actuator switch,

(i) said operating relay, said main switch of said auxiliary relay, somuch of said auxiliary switch which includes said first and thirdterminals thereof, and said actuator switch forming a series circuitwhich is connected across said control circuit current source means,

(ii) said selector switch being connected across a first portion of saidseries circuit which includes said first switch of said auxiliary relayand said first and third contacts of said auxiliary switch,

(iii) said auxiliary relay and said holding switch thereof forminganother series circuit which is connected across a second portion ofsaid first-mentioned series circuit which includes said first portionthereof as well as said operating relay, and

(iv) so much of said auxiliary switch which includes said second andthird terminals thereof being connected across said holding switch ofsaid auxiliary relay.

4. A first circuit arrangement as defined in claim 2 wherein said switchmeans further comprise auxiliary relay means etfective when said switchmeans is in its second position and energizable by said auxiliary switchwhen said magnet is energized for preventing a renewed actuation of saidcontrol switch unless said actuating switch is again actuated.

5. In combination with a firing circuit arrangement as defined in claim1, a firing linkage connected to said operating magnet to be actuatedthereby.

6. In combination with a firing circuit arrangement as defined in claim3, a firing linkage connected to said operating magnet to be actuatedthereby.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,380,802 7/45Strang 317l57 X 2,770,758 11/56 Babish 31714O SAMUEL BERNSTEIN, PrimaryExaminer.

1. A FIRE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (1) ANOPERATING CIRCUIT INCORPORATING (A) AN OPERATING MAGNET, AND (B) ASINGLE CONTROL SWITCH ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID MAGNET FORENERGIZING THE SAME; AND